A 10k

On Friday I take my Dad for a knee appointment at the hospital in the afternoon and then I bring him back to our place because we then have a home match with an 8pm kick off. Derby impressively beat Portsmouth 4-0. 

Saturday’s destination for Parkrun is Belvoir Castle. The course starts with loads of downhill which is not good attached to a dog but we survive it. We have breakfast at the dog friendly Belvoir Bistro across the road in the retail village or whatever they call these things. 

In the afternoon I go with L and her Mum to visit her Dad at the Care Home. The poor chap is suffering with a chest infection. Everyone is ill at the moment, L Mum’s included and the friends we were supposed to see Conclave with at Quad. 

We still do the film which is in the tiny cinema known as The Box. We come home not only greatly entertained but hugely educated about how a new pope is elected and all the politics that go with it. Which isn’t dissimilar to the politics that go with anything. 

On Sunday we are at Sherwood Pines for our replacement 10k. This is an event put on by Wild Deer Events, who are new event company to us but already seem huge. The event has a duathlon as well as the 10k we are doing and they also allow dogs. So, my four-legged training partner is here with me and will get to put all his training to full use. He’s very keen to get started and we also have loads of competition, there are so many dogs. 

The organisers give L, and everyone else, five minutes head start before some of the dogs started lining up on the start line. Well, all the small calm ones did. All the overexcited ones, e.g. most of the field, we’re standing way back from the line and then there’s us hiding behind the café building. 

Then we’re off and then once I had managed to stop the Lad biting his lead long enough to get him across the start line it went rather well. We caught up with all the small dogs and a lot of the main field including L. 

At the end, they presented us with a can of beer, mince pies, chocolate, a medal and a reusable coffee cup. Then we head home for a hot shower, a collapse into bed and then a dog free night out (he’s knackered) at the Organ Grinder and the Hand & Heart. After which I drag L kicking and screaming for a curry at 4550 Miles From Delphi. My second visit there in a fortnight. 

(Sunday 15^th December)